Morris "Morrie" Magnuson, Sioux Falls, SD, died August 28, 2010, in Sioux Falls. He was 89.

Morris W. Magnuson was born on February 14, 1921 to Lillie (Arneson) and Peter D. Magnuson in BonHomme County, South Dakota. He spent his boyhood years in Lyman County and attended a rural school south of Kennebec. He attended Augustana Academy for one year before transferring to Kennebec High School and later graduated from Northwest School at Crookston, Minnesota.

After graduation from high school he worked for Vega Aircraft in Burbank California and joined the Army Air Corps shortly after Pearl Harbor. He took pilot training in California and Arizona, receiving his wings and commission at Luke Field near Phoenix. He flew 79 missions as a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot in England, France and Belgium. On his 80th mission, and while hitting an airfield deep in Germany, he was shot down and taken prisoner of war. He attained the rank of Lt. Colonel and held a number of military decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, The Air Offensive of Europe (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes), the European African Middle East Service Medal with 5 Battle Stars, and the French Croix de Guerre. On May 26th, 2006, over 60 years after his service in France, he was honored by the government of France with the presentation of the Legion of Honor, the highest award the French can bestow on an individual. He has been the Commander of the Sioux Land Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, for several years.

He was united in marriage to Edith Sogn on November 25, 1945. They were blessed with three children, Gregory, Barbara and Lee. After graduation from South Dakota State University, where he also received his Master's degree, he taught in Volga and Brandon where he also served as High School Principal until 1963 when he was appointed Superintendent of the newly formed Brandon Valley Schools. In 1974 he was named Executive Secretary of the School Administrators of South Dakota, and in 1978 was appointed as Assistant Superintendent with the Division of Elementary Education in Pierre. He also served one year as interim superintendent in Chamberlain before retiring in 1982 and moving to Sioux Falls where they have since made their home.

After retiring, he and Edith traveled extensively and visited the Scandinavian countries, most of the European countries, Russia, China, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and all of the states including Alaska and Hawaii.

He was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls with service on a number of church boards. He served 20 years as an instructor of AARP's Safe Driving Course, and 10 years as Tax Aide. He and Edith delivered Meals on Wheels for 20 years and Morrie drove Project Car for 16 years.

He is survived by his loving wife of almost 65 years, Edith; daughter, Barbara (Rich) Hennies; sons, Gregory (Mary) and Lee (Jean) all of Sioux Falls; 8 grandchildren, Marc (Jeff Wozniak), Jon and Eric (Lindsey) Magnuson; Carl and Kate Hennies; Michael, Emily and Elizabeth Magnuson; one great-grandson, Damien Magnuson; a sister, Helen (Rollin) Smith of Kennewick, Washington; and one brother, Gerald (Jan) of Bayview, Idaho; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, James and Lloyd.

Memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church Media Ministry or First Lutheran Church Foundation.

Funeral Services are scheduled for 11:00 am Thursday at First Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation begins at 9:00 am Wednesday, with the family present from 5:30 to 7:00 Wednesday evening and a prayer service beginning at 7:00 Wednesday evening at Miller Funeral Home, 13th and Main Avenue.